Hello! I have now, just now, completed the greatest book series know to man-kind, The Hunger Games! Now I'm going to write about it! Yes, THIS IS a GaleXKatniss story; I am a shipper on both pairings but when I decided to write this story I chose TEAM GALE! Sorry, but I like the MAN with the meat not the boy with the bread. Yeah… I borrowed that last line from my friend who hates Peeta with a fiery passion.

Anyway! Lets get on with it shall we?

Disclaimer- I do not own The Hunger Games -tear- .

Enjoy!

Katniss POV

Flashback

I was wandering aimlessly through the forest, looking for game, as always. I heard the crunch of the dried leafs under my feet, winter would be coming soon, and I had to get ready. I had only gotten two squirrels and one rabbit this week, that little haul turned out only five silver pieces and some stew from Greasy Sae. If I don't make enough money selling things at the Hob I would have to work in the dreaded coal mines. I stopped walking as my stomach lurched at the thought. How would a half-starved, scrawny, little girl like me survive in the mine? That's just it, I wouldn't; I wouldn't even last a day. Prim and my mother would starve, and the little boy who gives me bread wouldn't have anyone to give it to. How lonely the world is.

I shove the thoughts out of my mind so I can focus. C'mon Katniss, pull yourself together now, you need to bring back meat so Prim doesn't starve and turn into food for the flies. I snort out a laugh, food for the flies? No, she would become food for the wild dogs or bears, maybe even some wild man-eating cat; images of Buttercup feasting on Prim almost makes me lose my breakfast. No I wouldn't lose this breakfast it was the first one my mother made since Dad was killed in the explosion.

I spot a rabbit about ten yards to my right, and I reach for an arrow. I knock it and raise the bow; Prim always said that when I aim, I have this thing she calls the "dead-eye". It makes me look as merciful as a Peacekeeper and as deadly as firebomb, mother says I get it from my father. I take aim at the right eye of the rabbit and I let the arrow fly. I see the rabbit heard the whiz of the arrow because now it's starring right at me. For a second our eyes meet, until the arrow reaches its target, the rabbit dies with a look of complete fear plastered on its face.

I sigh, lowering my bow, "One down, four more, and a wild dog to go." I walk quietly over to the rabbit. I grab the ear and pull out my arrow.

I hear humming coming from behind me, it sounds like, no, it couldn't be; but it is. That is the unmistakable sound of "The Hanging Tree".

I feel the tears on my face, "Dad!"

It's not him.

All hope and color flood from my face. How could I be so foolish? My father is dead, killed by an underground explosion. How could I let myself be so naïve?

I see the face of the person; he is taller than me and well built. He is staring at me with grey eyes, oh, they are beautiful. He is dragging behind him a deer, eight point white tailed deer.

He gives me a small smile, "Sorry I think you have the wrong person."

I blush and drop my head in embarrassment.

I hear him drop the deer and walk up to me. "Hey, what's your name?"

I whisper my name hoping he would here it and leave me the hell alone, he's scaring all the game away.

"What? Your names Catnip? Well that's an interesting name you got there." He laughs, I know he heard me.

I muster a look of anger and stare strait into his gorgeous grey eyes, "My name is Katniss," I hiss, "not Catnip!"

"Too late, I'm already going to call you Catnip."

This guy is really getting on my nerves, "I said my name is Katniss!"

"Okay, Katniss," he says my name in a mocking tone, "what are you doing out here? You know besides breaking the law?"

"I am trying to keep my family alive, thank you very much, so I would like to go find four more rabbits and a wild dog so I can earn some money!"

He furrows his eyebrows, "Doesn't your father do that?"

I stiffen up, "No, he was blow to bits by a mining accident."

"Well, looks like you and I are here for the same reason."

"You too?" I ask.

His happy face turns cold, but the smile is still there, always there, "Yes, my father died in the same accident you father did. I could tell because you called me Dad when you heard me humming 'The Hanging Tree'.

"How do you know that song?" I mumble.

"Your father taught it to me; he said that 'Perhaps this will give you good luck…'"

"…so maybe you won't screw up as bad as I did." I finish his sentence for him.

We both laugh, knowing that my father wasn't a screw up at all, he just said that so it would make people laugh. I guess it works because here we are, total strangers, laughing hysterically, even though the joke really isn't that funny.

"Let's hunt together, from now on. I can give you the four rabbits and we can spilt the deer, how 'bout that?" He offers.

This guy seems questionable, but I need the cash and food, so I take up his offer, "Sure, why the hell not?"

He laughs and sticks out his hand, "Gale Hawthorne."

"Katniss Everdeen." I say taking his hand and giving it a firm shake.

"Well Katniss Everdeen, starting now you will be, forever, my Catnip.

End Flashback.

I sat in bed staring at the ceiling. A smile had made its way across my lips as I remembered the day I met Gale. It was always good to have a happy memory; because after the nightmares of my father dying or Prim becoming fly food, I can always count on that memory to chase them away, just as Gale would. I crawl out of bed and get dressed; I have got to hunt before the reaping. I have a good feeling about today, maybe I'll get a deer and we can eat for months. I pull on my hunting boots and step into the light of the day, smile already on my lips.

Little did I know today began the rest of the downward spiral of Katniss Everdeen, the girl who is, forever, Gale Hawthorne's Catnip.

So how was it? I always imagined them meeting that way. If you squint you can see I made it so Gale fell in love with Katniss at first sight, that's why he called her my Catnip, not just Catnip.

Santa Claus, OUT!